Temporary abstraction of groundwater from a construction site for dewatering

This General Binding Rule (GBR) applies to the temporary abstraction of groundwater at—

1. a construction site for roads, railways, buildings, pipelines, communication links or other built development, or
2. a site at which the maintenance of such development is being undertaken,
   by means of—
   1. pumping the groundwater directly from any excavation or excavations on the site, or
   2. pumping the groundwater from any wells or boreholes on the site in order to help dewater any other excavation or excavations on the site,

and, if desired, the subsequent discharge of the abstracted groundwater to the water environment.

Authorisation level

General Binding Rule (GBR)

Rules

The temporary abstraction of groundwater at a site is covered by General Binding Rules. If you intend to carry out this activity, and you comply with the rules set out below, your activity will be authorised. You don’t need to apply to SEPA for an authorisation.

If you carry out an activity under this authorisation you must comply with the rules. It is an offence to if you do not comply with the rules.

If you cannot comply with the rules, you will need a different type of authorisation.

General Binding Rule (GBR) for temporary abstraction of groundwater from a construction site for dewatering

1. Groundwater may only be abstracted at the site within a period of 180 days beginning with the first day on which groundwater is abstracted at the site,

2. other than where paragraph (g)(i) applies, groundwater must not be abstracted from any excavations, wells or boreholes that are within 250 metres of any surface water unless the abstracted water is discharged into the surface water at the nearest part of the surface water to the point of abstraction and in accordance with paragraph (f) or (g)(ii), as applicable

3. groundwater must not be abstracted from any excavations, wells or boreholes that are within 250 metres of a wetland,

4. groundwater must not be abstracted from any excavations, wells or boreholes that are within 250 metres of an abstraction that is not for the sole purpose of dewatering an excavation,

5. all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the quantity of sediment in the abstracted water is minimised,

6. if the abstracted groundwater is taken directly from an excavation and this water, and any precipitation or water run-off that has also collected in the excavation, is discharged to the water environment, it must be discharged via a surface water drainage system authorised under these Regulations subject to the consent of the person having operational control of the system,

7. if the abstracted groundwater is taken from a borehole or well, and is discharged to the water environment, it must be—

   1. discharged directly back to the same part of the geological formation or the mine workings from which it was abstracted, provided that the abstracted water does not contain any radioactive substance, and that no substances are added to, or otherwise allowed to enter, the abstracted water prior to its return, or
   2. discharged via a surface water drainage system authorised under these Regulations subject to the consent of the person having control of the system, and

8. all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure that the discharge of abstracted groundwater does not result in the introduction of any substance or heat to the water environment which may give rise to harm to the water environment.

Help and guidance

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